Thermally insulated container attachable to a couch

ABSTRACT

An insulated containing apparatus is provided. The insulated containing apparatus includes a container. The container includes a base, a sidewall extending from the base and a lid. The sidewall includes an upper edge forming an entrance into the container. The lid is hingedly attached to a portion of the upper edge. An armrest cover includes an elongated bendable body having a proximal end and a distal end. The proximal end is secured to the container. The elongated body is sized to wrap around an armrest of a couch and the distal end fits underneath a cushion of the couch, thereby connecting to the couch.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisional application No. 62/258,668, filed Nov. 23, 2015, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to coolers and, more particularly, to a thermally insulated container attachable to a couch.

A cooler, portable ice chest or ice box most commonly is an insulated box used to keep food or drink cool. To keep beverages cold, coolers may be used in a living room setting. Coolers are currently not attachable to furniture, and therefore are noticeably out of place within the room.

As can be seen, there is a need for an improved thermally insulated container that is attachable to a couch.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, an insulated containing apparatus comprises: a container formed of an insulated material and comprising a base, a sidewall extending from the base and a lid, wherein the sidewall comprises an upper edge forming an entrance into the container, wherein the lid is hingedly attached to a portion of the upper edge; and an armrest cover comprising an elongated bendable body having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the proximal end is secured to the container, wherein the elongated body is sized to wrap around an armrest of a couch so that the distal end is secured underneath a cushion of the couch.

In another aspect of the present invention, a method of securing a cooler to a couch comprises: providing an insulated containing apparatus comprising: a container formed of an insulated material and comprising a base, a sidewall extending from the base and a lid, wherein the sidewall comprises an upper edge forming an entrance into the container, wherein the lid is hingedly attached to a portion of the upper edge; and an armrest cover comprising an elongated bendable body having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the proximal end is secured to the container; wrapping the armrest cover over an armrest of a couch; and tucking the distal end of the armrest cover underneath a cushion of the couch.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention shown unfolded;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a cutaway view of an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

The present invention may include a couch or sofa armrest strap cover with an insulted cooler bag. The present invention keeps beverages cool for an extended period of time while being in an accessible area from the couch. The cooler bag may be made of an insulating material such as of fabric, nonwovens, polyethylene, polyurethane, polypropylene and the like.

The container may include a table top, four side walls forming front and back walls made of a rigid material, such as plastic. A thermal fabric makes up the internal lining, which lines the top, all sides, and bottom of cooler bag. The bag's outer fabric makes up the external layer of cooler bag, which covers the entire exterior of the bag.

The present invention attaches to a couch or sofa armrest by way of an armrest cover strap. The table top may sit level or slightly level with the armrest of a couch/sofa. The open beverage container sits within the beverage holder, which is attached to the table top. The zip fastener keeps the top of the cooler bag closed and the internal temperatures from rising rapidly. An internal flap separates the top and bottom compartments. The internal flap may be connected to the inside of the cooler bag by a cloth hinge. The internal flap is stopped by a block, which is secured to an internal portion of the cooler bag, so the internal flap does not fall into the bottom compartment. The bottom of the cooler bag may be reinforced by a removable covered plastic bottom floor, which allows the cooler bag to collapse for space saving storage. The cooler bag can hold multiple closed beverage containers for later consumption. The frame and the removable covered bottom floor prevents the cooler bag from sagging. A plastic board can be inserted into the armrest cover base for maximum stability.

The armrest cover straps around a couch armrest and can be tucked into the crease of the couch/sofa using the tuck bar. The under-cushion flap lies underneath a couch seat cushion. The armrest cover strap may include three parts, the armrest cover, tuck bar, and the under-cushion flap. The armrest cover and under-cushion flap are constructed of three parts: outer top, internal, and outer bottom. The outer fabric on top may be made of any appropriate insulation fabric, internal may be made of cotton batting and outer bottom may be made of anti-skid gripper fabric. The tuck bar is connected to the armrest cover and under-cushion flap by covering the tuck bar in outer fabric. The under-cushion flap may include a customizable counter weight pouch at the end of the flap. The pouch can be used if desired by the user to add additional counter weight for the cooler bag and closed by the zip fastener at the end of the pouch.

Referring to FIG. 1, the present invention includes an insulated containing apparatus. The insulated containing apparatus includes a container 70. The container 70 includes a base, a sidewall extending from the base and a lid 20. The sidewall includes an upper edge forming an entrance into the container 70. The lid 20 is hingedly attached to a portion of the upper edge. The remaining portion of the lid 20 may be secured to the upper edge by a connector, such as a zipper 40 or a hook and loop fastener. The lid 20 may be made of a ridged plate 20. The rigid plate may include cutout portions forming a drink holder 10. An insulating foam 30 may secure to the lid forming the drink holder 10.

The insulated containing apparatus further include an armrest cover 50. The armrest cover 50 includes an elongated bendable body having a proximal end and a distal end. The inner surface of the proximal end may be secured to the sidewall of the container 70. An outer surface of the armrest cover 50 may be made of a gripping material 90. A tuck bar 60 may be disposed within the distal end of the armrest cover 50. The tuck bar 60 is an elongated rigid bar disposed along a width from a first side to a second side of the armrest cover 50. An end portion 80 of the armrest cover 50 is formed beyond the tuck bar 60. The elongated body is sized to wrap around an armrest of a couch and the end portion 80 fits underneath a cushion 160 of the couch, thereby connecting to the couch.

Referring to FIG. 2, the lid may be made of a rigid plate 100 forming a table top 170 to rest drinks or other items. Therefore, the present invention forms an end table when attached to the couch. The sidewall may be formed of ridged plates 110 having front and back walls 120. A thermal fabric 130 may cover the ridged plates 110. An outer fabric 150 may cover the thermal fabric 130. The armrest cover 50 may attach along a substantial portion 140 of a front wall 120 of the container.

Referring to FIG. 3 through 7, the insulated containing apparatus includes a container. The container includes an outer fabric 150 covering ridged plates 110 forming front and back walls 120. As mentioned above, the present invention includes a lid forming a table top 170 with cutout portions 200. Beverage containers 180 may be secured within the cutout portions 200. The table top 170 is formed of the rigid plate 100. The lid is attachable to the upper edge of the sidewall by zippers 190.

The armrest cover 220 includes a proximal end 300 secured to the sidewall of the container. The proximal end 300 may also include a rigid board 290 disposed within. A tuck bar 360 may be disposed within the distal end of the armrest cover 220. The tuck bar 360 is an elongated rigid bar disposed along a width from a first side to a second side of the armrest cover 220. An end portion 370 of the armrest cover 220 is formed beyond the tuck bar 360. A zipper 380 connects inner edges of the end portion 370 of the armrest cover 220 together. The inner edges form a pouch in between to fit a counterweight within. The elongated body is sized to wrap around an armrest of a couch and the end portion 370 fits underneath a cushion 160 of the couch, thereby connecting to the couch.

The inside of the container is sized to store a plurality of beverage containers 270 within. A rigid board 260 may be disposed within the container and may rest on the base. In certain embodiments, the container may include a partition 210. The partition 210 may be an internal flap hingedly connected to an inner surface of the sidewall by a cloth hinge 230. An opposing end of the internal flap may rest against a block 240 secured to an opposing side of the inner surface of the sidewall. The rigid board 260 and the internal flap 210 may each include a rigid frame 280 and an outer fabric 150 covering the rigid frame 280.

FIGS. 8, 9 and 10 illustrate a first container 500, a second container 600 and a third container 420. The first, second and third containers 500, 600, 420 are alternate shapes of the present invention described above. FIG. 11 illustrates a perspective view of an alternative model of the present invention. The alternative model may include a cooling element 410, which may be in the form of cooling coils. A power cord 400 may extend from the cooling element 410. The power cord 400 provides power to the cooling element 410 when plugged into a power outlet.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An insulated containing apparatus comprising: a container formed of an insulated material and comprising a base, a sidewall extending from the base and a lid, wherein the sidewall comprises an upper edge forming an entrance into the container, wherein the lid is hingedly attached to a portion of the upper edge; and an armrest cover comprising an elongated bendable body having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the proximal end is secured to the container, wherein the elongated body is sized to wrap around an armrest of a couch so that the distal end is secured underneath a cushion of the couch.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a rigid plate secured to the lid, wherein the rigid plate comprises at least one cutout portion forming a drink holder.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a zipper connecting a portion of the lid to the upper edge.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of ridge plates disposed within the insulated material.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a tuck bar disposed within the distal end of the armrest cover, wherein the tuck bar is an elongated rigid bar disposed along a width from a first side to a second side of the armrest cover forming an end portion of the armrest cover.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising a zipper connecting inner edges of the end portion of the armrest cover.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an internal flap comprising a portion hingedly secured to an inner surface of the sidewall.
 8. A method of securing a cooler to a couch comprising: providing an insulated containing apparatus comprising: a container formed of an insulated material and comprising a base, a sidewall extending from the base and a lid, wherein the sidewall comprises an upper edge forming an entrance into the container, wherein the lid is hingedly attached to a portion of the upper edge; and an armrest cover comprising an elongated bendable body having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the proximal end is secured to the container; wrapping the armrest cover over an armrest of a couch; and tucking the distal end of the armrest cover underneath a cushion of the couch.
 9. The method of claim 8, further comprising a rigid plate secured to the lid, wherein the rigid plate comprises at least one cutout portion forming a drink holder.
 10. The method of claim 8, further comprising a tuck bar disposed within the distal end of the armrest cover, wherein the tuck bar is an elongated rigid bar disposed along a width from a first side to a second side of the armrest cover forming an end portion of the armrest cover. 